Bernucca: Small Market Dilemma is the NBA’s Big Lie

LINE OF THE WEAK: Nate Robinson, Chicago vs. Miami, May 13: 32 minutes, 0-12 FGs, 0-5 3-pointers, 0-0 FTs, three rebounds, four assists, one block, two steals, four turnovers, zero points in an 88-65 loss. After a seven-game postseason run where he averaged 19.9 points and 5.6 assists, the pixie dust wore off for Robinson. The only worse postseason performance since 1986 was Ray Allen’s 0-of-13 in the 2008 Finals.

TRILLION WATCH: A big breakthrough for Grizzlies guard Keyon Dooling, whose 4 trillion Monday vs. Oklahoma City matched former teammate Courtney Lee of Boston for the best disappearing act of the postseason. Honorable mention this week for the 1 trillions Thursday from Spurs guard Patty Mills at Golden State and Knicks forward Steve Novak vs. Indiana.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Indiana at Miami, May 22. The Heat are 8-1 in the postseason, but their only loss came at home in Game 1 vs. Chicago after seven days off. They will have had six days off before Game 1 vs. the Pacers, who are tougher, healthier and better than the Bulls.

TWO MINUTES: While everyone is stumbling over themselves to laud the Bulls for their postseason effort, keep in mind that effort included the worst playoff loss in franchise history and the fewest points in a playoff game in franchise history. That was Game 4 vs. Miami, an 88-65 loss in which coach Tom Thibodeau finally relented and took Richard Hamilton out of mothballs. Hamilton played just 10 minutes in Chicago’s first 10 postseason games before scoring 11 points in 22 minutes in Game 4 and 15 in 35 minutes in Game 5. Afterward, Hamilton said, “Lot of stuff in life you don’t understand. This (playoffs) is what I was brought here for. To not be able play and help my teammates, it’s hard, it’s rough. But I try to stay positive. I don’t try to rock the boat.” Which, of course, is entirely untrue. In Detroit, Hamilton had a public feud with Michael Curry in which he called the coach a liar and unleashed a profanity-laced attack at John Kuester at a practice in front of other players. … Here are the final numbers on Jason Kidd’s scoreless stretch: After his 3-pointer early in Game 2 vs. Boston, Kidd did not score in 208 minutes over 10-plus games. He was 0-of-18 overall and 0-of-11 from the arc. … A big reason why the Spurs were able to win the last two games and get past the Warriors was their defense on “Splash Brothers” Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. In Games 5 and 6, Curry and Thompson shot a combined 20-of-59, including 5-of-19 from the arc. They totaled just 47 points and neither got to the foul line in either game. San Antonio frequently hedged or blitzed the pick-and-roll, leaving Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli unattended and daring Golden State’s big men to consistently make a play, which they could not. The byproduct became Curry and Thompson taking some bad shots. “When I look at the way the Spurs have played this series they have obviously made adjustments,” coach Mark Jackson said. “We didn’t plan on winning this series with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson making shots.” However, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich believes the emphasis on strategy is somewhat overblown. “They’re exaggerated,” he said. “Everybody talks about adjustments but it’s pretty much in the hands of the players at this point. Making shots and players playing well is pretty much what the playoffs are about. Everybody plays pretty good defense, everybody executes what they have and who they are, and big players step up and make plays and win games, for the most part.” … In the 2011-12 season, the Thunder’s longest losing streak was three games. Then their postseason ended with four straight losses to Miami. This season, the Thunder’s longest losing streak again was just three games. And again, their postseason ended with four straight losses, this time to Memphis. … Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough may have played his way out of the rotation with his awful performance in the conference semifinals. After contributing eight points and four boards in 11 minutes of Indiana’s Game 1 win at New York, Hansbrough managed seven points on 2-of-9 shooting with eight rebounds, seven fouls and five turnovers in 64 minutes over the final five games. Given Miami’s penchant for small ball and Hansbrough’s lack of quickness and shot-blocking ability, it’s hard to imagine him as a fourth big in Frank Vogel’s rotation. … Yes, Memphis looked discombobulated at both ends in San Antonio on Sunday. Keep in mind that the Grizzlies lost the first two to the Clippers and won four in a row. They also lost to the opener to the Thunder and again won four in a row. Also keep in mind that Memphis has yet to lose a home playoff game and is 19-1 at the FedEx Forum since Feb. 8. The last team to reach the NBA Finals without home court advantage in any series was the 1999 Knicks. The last team to do it in a full season was the 1995 Rockets, who won the title. … In the Tim Duncan-Gregg Popovich Era (since the 1997-98 season), the Spurs have won 50 playoff games on the road, the most of any team. The Lakers are second with 48. Among those road wins are 18 clinchers in 40 series. The Lakers also have 18 road clinchers in 42 series.

Trivia Answer: Tim Duncan in 1998. … Happy 35th Birthday, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje. … Think Derrick Rose might be mentally ready to play by Halloween?

Chris Bernucca is the deputy editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.